Powder-measure.



No. 780,080. PATBLWED JAN. 24. 1905. A. w. PETERSON 0G. 0. s0H0YBN.

POWDER MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED 100.10.25, 1904.

@WMM/Linsen No. r480,680.

. UNITED STATES Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE;

AXEL w. PETERSON IAND GEORGE o. sOHOYEN, OE DENVER, OOLORADO.

POWDER-MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of LettersPatent No. 780,680, datedy January 24, 1905. Application flied March 25,1904. Serial No.7200,054.

To allai/hom it may concer/e:

Be it known that we, AXEL W.r PETERSON and GEORGE O. SOHOYEN, citizens of the United States of America, residing -in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Powder-Measures; and we do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact descrip.- tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. l

Our inventionlrelates to improvements in powder-measures, and while the device is capable of generaluse for iilling shells the con-A struction shown and vhereinafter described in 'detail is especially adapted for filling -rieshells where two kinds of powder are usednamely, the" white or smokeless powder and the black powder. The white or smokeless portion of the charge is comparatively small and is put into the shell first in order to avoid the corrosion incident to the use of black powder at the priming extremity of the shell when it is desired to rell the latter. It is well known that in target practice the'shell employed is refilled indefinitely, while the bullets are inserted from the muzzle extremity of the gun in order that they may be riiied duringtheir'passage downward to a position in front of the shell for the purpose of obtaining greater accuracy in target-work.

The object of our invention is to provide a device of the class stated in which accurate results may be obtained through the instrumentality of mechanism of comparatively simple and economical construction; and'to this end the invention consists of a suitable casing uponwhich are mounted two powder-holders having openings in the bottom. This casing is also provided with an outlet-opening located below and intermediate the powder-holders. In the said casing is located a spring-held reciprocal plunger provided With a powder-receptacle normally occupying a position directly beneath one of the powder-holders and another powder-receptacle normally registering with the casing-outlet and brought into position beneath the ,other powder-holder when the plunger is actuated to bring the lirstnamed powder-receptacle into register with the outlet in the casing,A whereby the contents of the first-named receptacle are allowed to escape into the shell held beneath the said outlet, with which a tube of'suitable length is connected. As soon as the plunger is released its spring returns it to its normal position, whereby the powder in the second receptacle is allowed to escape from the casing. It will be understood from what has already been stated that the first-named receptacle is for the white or smokeless powder andthe second receptacle for the black powder. As only a small proportion of the charge is required to ybe smokeless powder, the iirst receptacle is much smaller than the second receptacle, since the latter must contain the major portion of the charge. The powder-holders are also of i different sizes, the larger holder being for the black powder. The plunger is also provided with an adjustable device whereby the size of the receptacle for the black powder may be regulated at will, depending on the sizeof the shell to be supplied. Y

Having brieiiy outlined our improved construction, as well as the function it is intended to perform, we will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of our improved device, showing the reciprocal plunger in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the plunger in thev actuated position, or in the opposite eX- treme position from that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is adetail view of the plunger detached. Fig; 4 isa detail view of the adjustable plug or piston for controlling the size of the blackpowder` receptacle of the plunger. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the rear eX- tremity of the device in elevation.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let A designate a tubular casing considered in its entirety. The top of this casing is provided with two openings Al and A2, forming the outlet for small hoppers A3 and A4, which TOO are threaded, as shown at A5 and A, to receive powder -holders A7 and A2, respectively. These holders are preferably composed of glass and are threaded to screw into their respective hoppers. They are of course open at their lower extremities and, as shown 1n the drawings, are closed at their upper extremities, beingl inverted cylindrical powderholders. These holders are suitably separated on the casing. The lower part of' the casing is provided with an outlet-opening A9, which is surrounded by a funnel-shaped mouth A12, with which is connected a depending tube A12, to whose lower extremity is attached an enlarged tubular part A12, into which may beinserted the open extremity of the shell A11 during the filling operation. Mounted in the tubular casing A is the reciprocal plunger B, provided with two powder-receptacles B' and B2. The powder-receptacle B is the smaller of' the two and normally occupies a position in register with the opening A' of the casing. The normal position of the plunger is considered the position shown in Fig. l, in which the plunger is retained by the spring C, one extremity of which is hooked into an eye C' of the casing, while the other extremity engages a recess C2, formed in the plunger. The two arms C3 and C4 of the spring are oonnected by a coil C5, and when the plunger is in its normal position the spring is under suf'- iicient tension to retain it securely in the said position until actuated by positive pressure. Vhen the plunger is in the normal position, the powder-receptacle B2 thereofl registers with the outlet-opening A9 of the casing. Now if' it is desired to fill the shell A11 the plunger would be pushed in the easing tothe position indicated in Fig. 2, bringing the powder-receptacle B into register with the casing-opening A2 and allowing the white powder from the holder A7 to drop through the tube A12 into the shell. When the plunger is in the position shown in Fig. Q, the receptacle B2 will be made to register with the opening A2 of the casing, whereby the black powder fills the receptacle B2. i Then as the plunger is released from pressure the spring C returns it toits normal position, and the black powder will pass through the tube A12 into the shell, making the complete charge.

The size of the receptacle B2 is regulated by an adjustable plug D, which is slidable within the hollow portion of the plunger, whereby the said receptacle may be of greater or less size, as may be desired, depending on the quantity of black powder which it is desired to place in the shell. The plug Dis provided with elongated segments D and D2, occupying slots formed in the top and bottom of the plunger, respectively. rlhe said slots are closed by and form guides for these segments during the adjustment of the plug D. To this plug is attached a stem E, graduated, as shown at E, and slidable in an opening formed in a plug F, which closes the rear extremity of the plunger or the extremity farther to the right, referring to Figs. I, Q, and 3. The plug D is locked in any desired position of adjustment by a screw G, which is threaded in an opening formed in the casing, whereby its inner extremity is adapted to engage a llattened side of' the stem, which is also graduated to indicate the quantity of powder the receptacle B2 will hold when the plug is in any desired position. The thriaded opening for the screw Gr is formed in the plug F of the plunger, as well as the outer wall thereof, the casing being cut away, as shown in Fig, 5, to permit the insertion and removal of the screw Gr.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of our improved powder-measure will be readily understood. The casing is provided with a stop-pin H, which engages slots I, formed in the opposite sides oi the plunger. When the plunger is in its normal position, or that shown in Fig. 1, the pin engages the plunger at the rear extremity of the slots I, while when the plunger is actuated or moved to the position shown in Fig` 2 of the drawings the pin engages the forward extremity of' the slot. It will thus be understood that the pin H, which engages registering openings in the easing, forms a stop when the latter is in either extreme position.

Assuming that the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig, l and that each oi the holders A7 and A contains a quantity of powder` thatiu the holder A heilig white or smokes less powder and that in the holder A black powder, the operation of the device is as iollows: On the foregoing assumption the powder-receptacle B is lilled, while the receptaele B2 is empty, rl`he user then forces the plunger rearwardly to its limit ol moven'ient, whereby the powder-receptacle B is made to I'GgStGr with the outlet A of the casing, allowing the contents of the said receptacle to pass through the said opening and finally into the shell A, In the mean time the receptacle B1 has been brought into register with the opening A2 in the casing, whereby the black powder fills the said receptacle B. Then as the plunger is released the spring (l returns it to its forward limit of' movement, whereby the filled receptacle Bz is made to register with the opening A2, and the charge of' black powder passes downwardly into the shell. lt will lthus be seen that it is impossible to make a mistake in the use of our improved device, vsince it is only necessary to move the plunger rearwardly until it is stopped by the pin l-'i in order to provide the shell with the necessary quantity of smokeless powder, while as soon as the plunger is released the spring C automatically returns it to its other limit oll movement, whereby the charge oi black powder passes into the shell whieh is held beneath the tube A12.

IOC

The bottom of the casing A is provided near its rear extremity with a clamping device, coinprising a bracket J and a thumb-screw K threaded therein,whereby the device is adapted to be securedto a bench or other suitable stationary structure. (N ot shown.)

Attention is called to the fact that our improved device may be used for loading cartridgcs with powder and shot. For instance, one of the receptacles, as B', may be used for the powder, and the other1 receptacle, as B2, may be used for the shot. In this case the powder would be contained in the holder A7 and the shot in the holder As.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a powder-measure, the combination of a casing provided with an opening, a powderholder communicating with said openinga plunger located in the casing andnormally closing the powder-opening therein, the plunger being provided with a powder-receptacle normally out of register with the powderopening in the casing but registering with an outlet-opening in the casing, the plungerbeing spring-held in the normal position, a plug adjustably mounted in the casing to regulate the size oi' the said receptacle, the said plug having elongated segments closing slots formed inthe top and bottom of the casing, the arrangement being such that asthe plunger is actuated, the powder-receptacle therein isv brought into register with the powderopening of the casing whereby the receptacle is filled with powder, and as the plunger is released, the spring returns it to its normal position whereby the contents of the powder-re-4 ceptacle are allowed to escape, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a suitable casing provided with two powder inlet openings, -MQLVf-iesliolders connected with the casing and 1n communication with said openings, the caslng being also provided with an escape-opening located intermediate the powder-openings,

a spring-held, plunger reciprocally mounted in the casing and having two separated powder-receptacles, the first being normally in communication with one of the powder-holders and the second being normally in register with the escape-opening of the casing, thearrangement of the various openings in the casing and the two powder-receptacles being such that the plunger may be actuated to bring the first powder-receptacle into register with the escape-opening, the second powderreceptacle being at the same time brought into communication with the other powder-holder whereby it is tilled during the escapeof the powder from the iirst-named receptacle, and when the plunger is released and returned to its normal position, the powder in the second receptacle will pass through the escape-opening of the casing, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a casing provided iwith openings and having p owder-holders in communication with said openings, a plunger l reciprocally mounted inthe casing and having two separated powder-receptacles oi' unequal size, the casing being also provided with an outlet-opening, a spring connected with the casing and plunger and arranged to hold the plunger in position to cause the smaller powder-receptacle to register with one of the powder-inlet openings of the casing, while the larger powderreceptacle is in register with the outletopening of the casing, the movement of the plunger being controlled whereby as it is pushed rearwardly to itslimit of movement, the smaller powder-receptacle is brought into register with the outlet of the casing, while the larger powder-receptacle is brought into communication with the other powderholder. Y

4L. The combination with a casing provided with two separated powder-inlets, and a plunger reciprocallyT mounted in the casing and provided with two powder receptacles, a spring for holding the plunger in position to cause one powder-receptacle to register with one powder-inlet of the casing, the latter being provided with a powder-outlet located between the powder-inlets and equally distant from each, the distance between the two powder-receptacles of the plunger being equal to the distance between the casing-outlet and each casing-inlet, and a suitable stop for limiting the reciprocal movement of the plunger in both directions.

5.' The combination of a casing provided with two powder-inlets at the top, an intermediately-located powder-outlet at the bottom, and a plunger reciprocally mounted in the casing and normally spring-held at its for-y ward limit of movement, the casing having a stop for limiting the movement of the plunger in both directions, the plunger being provided with two powder-receptacles, the first being I normally in register with one of the powderinlets and the second being normally in register with the powder-outlet, and the distance between the two powder-receptacles being equal to the distance between the powder-outlet and each powder-inlet.

6. The combination in a powder-measure, of a casing provided with two separated powder-inlets at the top of the casing, and a powder-outletat the bottom of theV casing equally distant from the two powder-inlets,.a plunger reciprocally mounted in the casing and having a stop for limiting its movement in both di' rections, a spring connected with the casing and with the plunger for holding the latter normally aty its forward limit of movement,

the plunger being provided with two powderreceptacles being the same as the distance between the powder-outlet andthe two powderinlets, and a plug adjustably mounted in the plunger to control the size of the larger powder-receptacle.

7. The combination of a casing provided with two powder-inlets and a powderoutlet intermediately located, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the casing and provided with two powder receptacles, the distance between which is equal to the distance between the outlet and the two inlets, a spring for normally holding one `powder-receptacle in register 

